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MOTORINDIA
l
March 2012
55
panded with two prominent acquisi-
tions in 1990 and 2001 when it took
over two axle manufacturing com-
panies in France, which added to the
technical know-how and expertise
of the company.
“With the production and sale of
a specially developed axle, we are
strengthening our activities in the
Indian sub-continent,” explained
JOST CEO Lars Brorsen. “At the
same time, we are increasing our
competitiveness in the Indian mar-
ket as a complete provider of chas-
sis and connection components for
trailers.”
JOST is riding on its strategy of
‘German engineering, made in In-
dia’ and is keen on bringing out top
quality products that are competi-
tively priced.
“Our customers are interested in
getting a kit of trailer products and
our aim is to fulfil their demand.
We have massive space for expan-
sion in our Jamshedpur plant and the
Indian market holds huge potential.
We could also look at other markets
for export in future”, commented
Mr. Peter Ormond, President Asia,
JOST (Shanghai) Auto Component
Co. Ltd.
JOST has its own factory for fifth
wheel couplings in Jamshedpur. The
new axles will also be produced
there, with an annual production of
around 27,000 units. The new axles
and suspensions come with indigen-
ised design and are tailor-made for
the Indian market. Gigant, being
the technology partner for product
development, all products are thor-
oughly tested by the company. The
axles are already undergoing test for
the past six months with a few cus-
tomer vehicles.
An extensive market study was
done to understand the exact needs
of the customer and, as a result, the
axles have been completely local-
ised. “We want to provide a com-
plete package, so that the customer
has a single window for all his
products. We wanted to bring out
a maintenance-friendly, fully local-
ised product with easy availability
of spares, for which a lot of market
study was done”, said Mr. Amarjeet
Singh, Director and CEO, JOST In-
dia.
The trailer manufacturing industry
in India is still highly unorganised.
In the last decade we have seen the
emergence of manufacturers in the
organised segment. “With the trail-
er code being put in place, there is
increasing awareness among fleet
owners who are moving towards
rated load. Once the code is imple-
mented, the customers would want
branded products and parts for trail-
ers”, said Mr. Pradeep G.S., Head
- Sales & Marketing (OE and After-
market), JOST India.
The company has surveyed the
market to identify the problems
with the existing axles and has tried
to eliminate them from its range of
products. The new axles have been
designed keeping in mind the ease
of maintenance and replacement of
spares. For example, when the drum
is removed, the brake shoe could be
replaced easily unlike in other ax-
Component zone
“Our customers are interested in
getting a kit of trailer products
and our aim is to fulfil their de-
mand.”
– Mr. Peter Ormond
The new axle